Appointed Times, Sovereign Purposes

And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.' "

(1 Kings 13:1-2)

As the Creator of all mankind, God determines both the timing and location of every person’s birth. The passage above affirms this truth. The context is that Jeroboam, king of Israel, had erected idols and altars to lead the people of Israel in idol worship. In response, God sent a prophet to pronounce His judgment. In this passage, the prophet foretells the coming of a future king from Judah—naming him Josiah—and specifies his actions against those altars. This prophecy was given in 922 BC.

As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs that were there on the mountain. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the Lord which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

(2 Kings 23:16)

King Josiah, the one foretold by God, was born in 648 BC—274 years after the prophetic word was spoken. He proved to be a faithful and righteous king, leading Israel to serve the Lord diligently. The context of the passage above concerns Josiah's reforms, which included purging the land of idolatry. His actions directly fulfilled the prophecy given centuries earlier. The accuracy of this prophecy—down to Josiah’s name—demonstrates that God had predestined his life, including when and where he would be born.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,' To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built,' And I will raise up her waste places; Who says to the deep, 'Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers'; Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." '

(Isaiah 44:24-28)

"Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armour of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places that you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.'

(Isaiah 45:1-7)

This next passage is another clear example where God reveals His sovereignty over time and place of birth. Through Isaiah, God prophesied the rise of a Persian king whom He named Cyrus. Not only was Cyrus a Gentile, but the Lord also stated that Cyrus did not know Him—yet God still called him “My anointed” and “My shepherd.” This was because God had predestined Cyrus to fulfil His purposes. Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would order the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple—at a time when neither had yet been destroyed. This prophecy was given around 700 BC.

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.

(Ezra 1:1-2)

Cyrus became king of Persia around 600 BC, one hundred years after Isaiah's prophecy. Though this passage refers to Jeremiah’s prophecy about Israel’s return after seventy years in Babylon, it confirms the fulfilment of Isaiah’s earlier word. The point I wanted to highlight from this passage is that once again, God foretold the name and actions of a king who would not be born for a century, because He had predestined his life before he was born.

Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

(Luke 10:8-16)

The above quoted passage highlights a key method by which God works out His purposes in unbelievers’ lives: by choosing when and where they are born. It is no coincidence that the majority of the world's population is born into nations that do not acknowledge the living God and restrict the preaching of the gospel—such as China, India, and many Muslim nations.

Some argue that this is unjust, since God places people in nations where they are unlikely to hear the gospel. However, Scripture provides a twofold response:

First, in many cases, this is actually an act of God’s mercy. As Jesus teaches in the passage above, those who hear the gospel and reject it will face greater judgment than those who were never exposed to it. Thus, an unbeliever in a Muslim nation who never hears the gospel will face a more tolerable judgment than someone in a Christian nation who rejects it, even though both will ultimately perish as unbelievers.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

(Romans 1:18-25)

Second, creation itself bears witness to the existence of God. As Paul explains in the passage above, God's attributes are clearly visible through His creation, leaving all people without excuse. Although many reject this witness and turn to idolatry, God has still made Himself known.

Moreover, not all in such nations are lost. When someone sincerely seeks God—despite never hearing the gospel—God provides a way. The Ethiopian eunuch is a prime example (Acts 8:26–39). Though he lived in a land where the gospel had not been preached, God sent Philip to proclaim the message of salvation to him directly.

Michael E.B. Maher

Predestined to His Purpose

Buy Now

Donate

Payoneer